U.S. Oil Inventories: A Mixed Picture lweb.es/f1823 11.11.2016
Crude oil inventories are near record high levels and are rising on a year-on-year basis. Gasoline and ultra-low-sulfur diesel inventories are increasing to a lesser extent. Inventories of all three remain near seasonally-adjusted record highs. However, the pace of this increase – even though still growing – is slowing rapidly, and this is, on balance, welcome news for energy producers and those who have financial exposure to them. It’s a sign that energy supply and demand are moving more closely into alignment.
OEF REVIEW:Several factors have played a part in pushing U.S. crude oil prices below $30 per barrel, including high inventory levels of crude oil, uncertainty about global economic growth, volatility in equity and non-energy commodity markets, and the potential for additional crude oil supply to enter the market. Crude oil and petroleum product inventories, both domestically and internationally, have been growing since mid-2014 and are above five-year averages for this date.